The International Office
Online Handbook
Health & Safety
UK healthcare
Register with a Doctor
In the UK, non-emergencies are dealt with in a surgery by a doctor known as a General Practitioner (GP). You need to register with a doctor before you are treated. All students should register with a doctor as soon as they arrive in Bath. To see your doctor, telephone for an appointment. If you are very ill call-in. Most GPs also have an on-call service, so that you can contact a doctor 24 hours a day.
Women can see a female doctor.
If your doctor thinks you need medicine he/she will give you a prescription. Take this to a chemist who will give you the medicine and explain how to take it.
Campus Medical Centre
The Medical Centre on campus is open Monday to Friday, 08:15- 18:00 and surgeries are usually held between 09:00 and 17:00. Tel: 01225 386655, or extension 6655.
To register, call in person at the medical centre and fill in a registration form
.
When the Medical Centre is closed call Bath Emergency Medical Service (BEMS) on 01980 626 226. BEMS is at Riverside Health Centre, James St West, by Sainsbury's car park.
Hospital and specialist treatment
Most illnesses and other problems can be treated by the GP. If you need to see a specialist or have hospital treatment you must visit a GP first. The GP will refer you to the hospital/specialist doctor if necessary.
Minor injuries: Bath Walk-in Centre
For advice or treatment of minor illness and simple injuries there is a local walk-in centre at Riverside Health Centre, James St West, by Sainsbury's car park. They are open 07:00-22.00 daily.
Living off campus?
If you live off-campus and/or have your family with you you may prefer to find a doctor off campus. To find one visit the NHS Direct website.
Can I get free treatment?
Students on courses of six months or more
Whatever your nationality or immigration status, if you are on a course lasting six months or more you can get free treatment from the National Health Service (NHS), including free examination and hospital treatment, from the beginning of your stay. Register with a GP as soon as possible.
Students on courses of less than six months
If you are on a course of less than six months, you should take out private health insurance, unless you are the national of a country that has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. However, reciprocal health agreements do not cover illnesses which you had before coming to the UK.
For further information on reciprocal agreements contact the health authority in your home country, or the International Office.
EU/EEA/Swiss on courses of less than six months
Before leaving home get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your own national health authority - this provides treatment for all illnesses. Without an EHIC you are not covered for illnesses which you had before coming to the UK.
Prescriptions
Many medicines are only available on prescription in the UK. Patients usually have to pay for prescriptions when they take them to the pharmacy. Some people qualify for free prescriptions - ask at the Medical Centre or your GP surgery for form HC1.
Students living on campus can arrange for their prescriptions to be processed at a local pharmacy and delivered to the Medical Centre, where you can collect them. Ask at the Medical Centre if you wish to use this service.
Eye treatment
There is a charge for eye tests and you pay for spectacles or contact lenses. Help with the cost of eye tests and glasses may be available; apply using form HC1 before any treatment takes place. If you are under 19 in full-time education you will get free eye tests and vouchers for spectacles.
Dental Treatment
Dental treatment is available either privately or on the NHS - which is cheaper. You must be resident in the UK for over 6 months to be eligible for NHS treatment. You don't need to register with a dentist until you need dental treatment. See the NHS Direct website to find your nearest dentist.
If you require urgent dental treatment you can visit a Dental Access Centre. The nearest Centres are:
- Rush Hill, 20 Rush Hill, Bath, tel: 01225 487790
- Riverside Health Centre, 24 James Street, Bath, tel: 01225 474243.
All adults over the age of 19 have to pay for dental treatment unless they have an exemption certificate such as a HC2. The Dental Centre on campus is currently not taking more patients.